[NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:3003] adult learner multimedia storytelling

From: Phil Shapiro (pshapiro@his.com)
Date: Sun Aug 10 2003 - 08:26:05 EDT


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From: Phil Shapiro <pshapiro@his.com>
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Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:3003] adult learner multimedia storytelling
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hi everyone -

       in case it might be of interest, last week i worked on some 
adult learner multimedia storytelling using macromedia flash mx. 
i've posted on the web a first draft of a multimedia presentation 
written and narrated by stephon gray, an adult learner who works at 
the literacy resources division at MLK library in washington dc.

         back in 1996, stephon wrote a short biography of civil rights 
activists fannie lou hamer. i was working as a computer consultant 
for the literacy resources division at that time and suggested to 
stephon that we create a narrated, multimedia version of this 
writing.  at the time we used an inexpensive ($5) software program, 
simplecard, for macintosh computers. we posted this multimedia on the 
internet and received encouraging feedback from people who viewed it. 
(thanks, david rosen and others.)

          with the help of kind friends, a powerpoint version of this 
same multimedia was made.  over the years stephon and i have 
presented this multimedia presentation at various regional and 
national conferences, including the keynote speech we gave together 
at the "computers in adult literacy conference" in philadelphia, in 
may, 2000.

         for those of you who might be interested, you can view the 
draft of the flash version at 
http://storymakers.net/fannielouhamer.swf     your computer needs to 
have the free flash mx player software installed. this software can 
be downloaded from http://www.macromedia.com/   (click on the link at 
the bottom right of the screen for the flash player download.)

          the powerpoint version of this multimedia can be downloaded 
from http://storymakers.net/hamer.zip    note - the sound quality on 
this is not as clear as the new version.

          it's helpful to note that the software we used for the 
original presentation, simplecard, still plays fine on modern macs, 
but you cannot use it to create "stacks" on mac os 9 or mac os x 
macs.   if you have access to older macs (from circa 1990 to 1997), 
simplecard remains an excellent, low-cost multimedia tool.  best as i 
can recall, this software works well on any mac os 7.1 to mac os 8.1 
computer. (later macs can play simplecard stacks, but cannot make 
them.)

           an overview article i wrote about simplecard appears at 
http://www.his.com/pshapiro/simplecard.html   this article was 
written for the washington apple pi journal, the newsletter of the 
large macintosh computer club in the washington dc-area. 
http://www.wap.org    the original fannie lou hamer simplecard stack 
(bundled with the simplecard program) can be downloaded from 
http://storymakers.net/fannielouhamer.sit.hqx

            the simplecard version of the fannie lou hamer 
presentation fits on a high density floppy disk, for easy and 
low-cost distribution around town.  simplecard, a 50 kilobyte 
program, easily fits on the same floppy disk. thanks for any help you 
can provide getting this into the hands of adult literacy 
organizations and adult learners.

                  - phil shapiro
                    arlington, virginia

btw, i'll be re-recording the audio for this before releasing a final 
version. i used the internal microphone on my ibook laptop to record 
this with stephon last week.  a better recording device would be an 
external microphone hooked up to camcorder, recording into the 
camcorder -- with the lens cover of the camcorder on. (i just need 
the audio, not any video.)   i've be able to fairly easily bring the 
audio from my digital camcorder into flash by using the free imovie 
video editing software that ships with new macs.

i may be adding supplemental material to this before releasing the 
final version.  i'll keep you posted when the final version comes 
out.   i'll also be uploading the source file for this presentation 
(the .fla file) so people can create their own storytelling using 
flash mx by replacing the text and audio in this flash file.

it's helpful to note that nonprofit organizations can purchase flash 
mx for $40 (about 10% of the full price) from discounttech at 
http://www.techsoup.org    http://makeashorterlink.com/?S35E21B85

CTCNet affiliates wanting to learn Flash MX can purchase for $25 an 
excellent Flash MX training DVD from the Bay Area Video Coalition, 
which is also a CTCNet affiliate.  http://www.bavc.org   (see
http://ctcnet.org/connect/c4t03/0650.htm    and 
http://ctcnet.org/connect/c4t03/0651.htm)

Bay Area Video Coalition, in san francisco, is the largest nonprofit 
video and multimedia training organization in the country. these 
folks might want to think about having an "outside of town" 
membership/supporter fee for $25. they might be surprised at the 
number of people who sign up to support their mission.

without the Bay Area Video Coalition, i wouldn't be sending this email message.







-- 
Phil Shapiro  pshapiro@his.com
http://www.his.com/pshapiro/ (personal)
http://teachme.blogspot.com (blog)
http://storymakers.net (multimedia explorations)

"Where there is storytelling there are relationships. Where there is 
storytelling there are folks who crave to speak and learn." -
Brenda Laurel.



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